Looting, Vandalism, and Arson at Homes of 20 Million Awami League Supporters and Leaders

Image: Collected

 Following the political shift on August 5, 2024, an unprecedented crisis has descended upon the lives of Bangladesh Awami League's grassroots leaders, activists, and supporters.

​Field-level ordinary citizens are paying the highest price for this shift in the country's political and social landscape. Trapped under continuous attacks by political opponents, social boycott, and mass lawsuits, a vast group of the party's supporters is living through extreme adversity today.

​According to statistics provided by the political party and various local sources, the homes of nearly 20 million Awami League supporters and activists across the country have been subjected to looting, vandalism, and arson. This massive loss of life and property, alongside the contemporary situation, has completely destroyed the basic security of general party workers and their families.

​Additionally, party president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently alleged during a virtual meeting that nearly 10,000 Awami League leaders and activists have been killed across the country over the last two years.

​Professionals and Progressive Society Also Targeted

Most alarmingly, the impact of this crisis is not limited to active political figures. Professionals holding progressive ideals and the spirit of the Liberation War—including teachers, journalists, and lawyers—have also been affected.

​Those who advocated for the ideals of the Liberation War from their respective professional platforms for years are now facing blanket lawsuits. Many teachers have been forced to resign, the working environment for journalists has shrunk, and lawyers are facing harassment in court. Consequently, progressive society and the practice of free thought are enduring a deeply fearful situation.

​An Awami League Activist's Plea from Sydney: Vandalism and Death Threats at Mirpur Home

A stark picture of this grassroot crisis was reflected in the statement of Talukder Abdus Salam, an Awami League activist and resident of Mirpur, Dhaka, currently residing in Sydney, Australia.

​Expressing deep insecurity and concern from abroad, he stated: "Due to my clear political identity as an Awami League supporter and activist, my permanent residence in Mirpur, Dhaka was subjected to a violent attack, extensive vandalism, and looting. After valuable items inside were looted, the house was left completely uninhabitable.

​Furthermore, I am being continuously harassed through multiple false, politically motivated lawsuits. Continuous threats are being issued through various channels, including social media, stating that if my family members or I return to the country, we will be killed."

​Like him, numerous activists have been forced to leave the country to secure basic safety for themselves and their families, and are currently seeking humanitarian protection abroad.

​Family Separation and Extreme Subhuman Living Conditions

The most tragic impact of this situation has fallen on family structures. With male members fleeing their localities for fear of arrest and homesteads being targeted, family members are completely displaced and living in subhuman conditions.

​Children are unable to attend school regularly, elderly parents are deprived of medical care, and many families have become dependent on others for a single meal. Separated from their loved ones, these families are living through severe mental and physical distress.

​Grassroots Misery and Economic Paralysis

While a major portion of the party's top leadership is either in prison or exile, general grassroots activists and supporters are paying the heaviest price for the political shift.

​Reports from various districts, sub-districts, and remote villages indicate continuous attacks on the homes, shops, and business establishments of countless Awami League workers. Due to attacks by political opponents and intimidation by extremist groups, numerous families have been forced to abandon their ancestral properties and go into hiding elsewhere.

​With their regular sources of income completely cut off, these families are enduring extreme financial hardship and living subhuman lives.

​Trap of Mass Lawsuits and Legal Complexities

In the altered political landscape, thousands of criminal cases have been filed nationwide against Awami League leaders, activists, and progressive professionals.

​A significant number of human rights activists and lawyers expressed deep concern, noting that many of these cases rely on blanket accusations involving hundreds of unnamed individuals rather than specific evidence. General political workers and supporters are being charged under severe sections of the criminal code.

​Families have completely broken down socially and mentally while dealing with the fear of arrest and sky-high legal expenses.

​Call to Resolve the Humanitarian Crisis

To survive the situation and avoid legal harassment, many party leaders and activists have fled abroad or are seeking political asylum in various countries. However, the majority of those who remain in the country suffer from a lack of basic rights and humanitarian protection.

​According to political analysts, ideological differences are natural in a democratic state, but endangering citizens' right to livelihood on those grounds is unacceptable.

​To restore long-term stability and genuine democracy in the country, it is essential to ensure the legal and humanitarian security of every citizen and end the politics of vengeance.